The “Shun Corruption Project,” has partnered with the MacArthur Foundation and other stakeholders to advocate zero tolerance in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
The call was made during a conference, organized to report the Shun Corruption Project’s second year of entrenching zero tolerance for corruption amongst Nigerians and in the church.
Speaking on the theme, ‘Pioneering Pentecostals Involvement in the Fight Against Corruption in Nigeria: A Harvest of “FIRSTS,” the General Overseer, Palace of Priests Assembly and Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), Dr. Otive Igbuzor said the program is a project aimed at mobilizing Christians and Nigerians against corruption.
According to him, there is a need to build the capacity of leaders to operationalize, manage and sustain the fight against corruption in every society.
“Over the years, several scholars, development workers, activists, politicians, international organizations, public affairs commentators and the general public have given attention to the problem of corruption and its effects on the society. Corruption poses significant challenges to economic development, social justice and stability…corruption is undoubtedly one of the greatest challenges of our time.”
Giving her remarks, the Program Associate, Ojonugwa Negedu, said that with deep reflection, careful planning and willingness to tackle corruption, the organizers and partners have been able to amplify their two year old campaign against corruption.
“This program falls under the MacArthur Anti-Corruption project in Nigeria. We are found under the faith based organization and use the voice strategy for positive change in behavior and society. Under the voice strategy, what we do is to promote transparency, accountability and we look for local solutions to tackle corruption in our communities,” she said.
The Development Consultant, Gender Expert and Monitoring/Evaluation Specialist, Dr. Joyce Igbuzor, emphasized on the need for stakeholders to actively participate in the war against corruption. She also applauded the Palace of Priests Assembly and its partners for their active involvement and sensitization of the society on ways to tackle corruption in all forms.
Speaking to journalists at the event, a participant of the Shun Corruption Project, Pastor Isaac Komolafe, said the project is an eye opener for Nigerians to speak out whenever they encounter any form of corruption.
According to him, “With the teaching of the PPJ Shun corruption project; with their workshops; everybody begins to see that there is a need for us to build structures and systems for checks, so as to ensure effective work.”
The Shun Corruption project is a component of the MacArthur Foundation’s ‘Anticorruption Programme,’ also known as the ‘On Nigeria (ON) Programme,’ which aims to entrench accountability, transparency and good governance in the government and civil societies.